When Mia Comes Marching In: Tex Mex and the New Jerusalem
(Greetings from Javalato at the intersection of Northwest Highway and Preston Road in Dallas, Texas, USA. This week's already-not yet is inspired by my weeklong tour of the Big D).
Isaiah 60 pictures a day when the not yet will become the already - the kingdom of God - and it's a magnificent metropolis teeming with created beauty. In fact, we learn that people from every part of the world will bring their cultural treasures into the city. In other words, God's not going to make us into uniformed soldiers like Mormon missionaries, wearing the same white shirt and black tie and riding the same bikes, but somehow Europeans and Latinos and Africans will look like Europeans, Latinos, and Africans in the New Jerusalem. (For a great read on this subject, see Richard Mouw's short-but-powerful book When the Kings Come Marching In: Isaiah and the New Jerusalem). So, Midian will bring her Camels, Tarshish her ships, Lebanon her trees, and Bavaria her Motor Works. But what does this have to do with Dallas? Being here this week reminded me of one thing that my hometown, Denver, will NOT be bringing into the kingdom: Mexican food.
There are many wonderful things about Denver - great weather, sunshine, parks, and mountain vistas, but everything can't be perfect. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve's rebellion brought a curse on creation, and Mexican food in Denver is evidence of the fall. They call it "Mountain Mex" which is a euphemism for "bland plate of soggy goo smothered in green sauce." I'll say it straight: it's a sin. It's evidence that the creation itself has been subjected to futility. It's a pocket of rebellion that is not under Jesus' rule. It's proof that the kingdom is "not yet" because when the kingdom comes, Mountain Mex will be tossed into the lake of fire.
In the Kingdom, the summer weather will come from Colorado, but the Mexican food will come from Dallas, probably made by Mia. Tex Mex in Dallas is an endless variety of outstanding restaurants flowing with milk and honey and sopapillas. Mia's, Chuy's, Mi Cocina, Rafa's, Blue Goose, Mariano's, Mattito's, Primo's....I'm just getting warmed up! Consider: when Pat Bowlen wanted to hire Mike Shanahan, did he take him to La Hacienda Colorado? Hell, no! But Jerry and Jimmy sealed their infamous coup de Landry over cervezas and enchiladas at Mia's on Lemmon and the 'Boys were on their way to three Superbowl triumphs. No one does Mexican like Dallas. It's their cultural gift to the New Jerusalem.
Dad and I are eating Mexican tonight. Granted it's Birmingham Mexican and not Dallas Mexican, but I guarantee you it will be better than Denver Mexican.
Posted by: Mom | October 27, 2006 at 04:36 PM